By Max Bowen-max.bowen@northstarreporter.com
A second delay involving the Recycling Center’s vehicle scale has pushed completion back an additional two weeks.
In a post to the town’s web site, it was announced that the replacement of the vehicle scale was delayed to Jan. 25 due to an issue with the contractor.
“That being said, we are still unable to weigh vehicles in or out and therefore cannot accept items that normally go over the scale during this time period, for example, couches, non-town bagged trash, wood, metal, etc.,” the statement read.
This isn’t the first time that the completion date has been adjusted. In late December, Department of Public Works Director Mark Hollowell said the project was delayed when the new deck for the scale was sent to be galvanized, only for the company doing the work to inform him that it would take three weeks to complete. Work was originally slated to begin Nov. 23 and completed by Dec. 17.
This resulted in Jan. 10 being set as the new date by which the scale would be approved for use, following calibration and testing by the state Department of Weights and Measures.
While the work is being done, the scale cannot be used. Vehicles will be unable to be weighed, and so items that normally go over the scale such as couches, non-town bagged trash, wood and metal cannot be accepted.
The Recycling Center will otherwise remain open the normal days and times to accept Freon-bearing appliances, white goods, propane tanks, electronics, TVs, tires, mattresses/box springs, light bulbs, town bagged trash, and recycling. The project is estimated to cost $145,000, being paid for through a combination of a town article and the Solid Waste Reserve Fund. The cost was driven up due to the rising price of steel.
The scale has been at the center since the 1970s and rotted parts necessitated its replacement. A Request for Proposals was issued in June, with the goal to procure a replacement pit-type truck scale used for weighing trash that is brought into the center. In addition, the town would enter into a three-year contract for annual maintenance or replacement of the scale through June 30, 2024.
Replacement of the scale has been of increased importance as of late, with many residents doing work on their houses during the pandemic.
